Thoughts on everyday life and inspiring others to contribute to life in a positive way.

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Friday, March 14, 2014

Human Kindness Overflowing

Michael was a
senior at a high school in a different state where I was the principal a while
back.He was an above average student,
usually wore a smile, was rather quiet and unassuming, but popular with both
students and staff.He loved participating
in sports, particularly football.The
problem was that Michael struggled with a rare form of cancer and had to put up
with surgeries, with chemo, and with radiation treatments.

Towards the end
of the football season when Michael was a senior, the head football coach
wanted him to have the opportunity to play in a game and as a wide receiver, and
to even catch a pass.This was tough because
physically, Michael wasn’t in any shape and certainly couldn’t take a hit from
an opposing defender.But the coach,
Mark, contacted the opposing head coach and arranged that on the first
offensive play, we were going to pass to Michael, who would hopefully catch it,
and then run out of bounds.In return,
one of our captains, a senior lineman, would false start on purpose, moving us
backwards five yards.The opposing coach
agreed.

That evening,
just as it was planned, on our first possession on offense, Michael ran a quick
out, the pass was made, he caught the ball, and ran out of bounds.There were cheers.The fans on both sides of the field stood and
gave Michael a standing ovation, and I believe there were not too many dry eyes
anywhere.I get choked up remembering
the moment.I can’t remember the score
or even who won the game, but I remember that moment.

Human Kindness
Overflowing.

Earlier this
week, there was a report on the news of two teams playing for a state basketball
championship.Towards the end of the
game, there was little doubt who was going to win.One team had a manager, a student, who had Asperger’s.He had never played, but they suited him up
for his first game and towards the end of it, put him in.

There wasn’t
much time left in the game.I believe it
was under a minute.They passed him the
ball, he shot and missed.The other team
had it, turned it over on purpose, and the boy received the ball again.He missed.It was rebounded by the other team, and the opponent passed the boy the
ball so he could shoot again, even directed him to get closer to the hoop.The boy shot and made it.The buzzer went off, and everyone cheered.I don’t know the names or schools of the two
teams, but I know it’s a story I won’t soon forget.Sort of like Michael’s story.

Human Kindness
Overflowing.

I stole that
line from a Randy Newman song, one of my favorites.

I think that at
times, maybe even more than you and I know, Human Kindness does indeed
Overflow.I think of a girl and her
family who doesn’t have much at all, yet she has contributed bags full of things
to distribute to needy families.I
remember a story about an elderly lady who lived alone.Her church was going to gift her with the
fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner.When
they rang the doorbell, the lady saw who it was, stated, “Oh, I’m glad you
stopped by.I have something I wanted to
give to the needy.”She went back into
her kitchen, grabbed a can of cranberry sauce and handed it to the priest, and
said, “Sorry, I forgot to bring it to church this morning.”The priest accepted it with a thank you, and
took the fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner to someone else on the list.How could he not when this lady didn’t see
herself in need?

Paying it
forward at a Starbucks or at a toll booth.Someone paying for someone’s groceries when the person in front comes up
short. Someone paying someone else’s
bill.It happens.Sometimes we hear about it, and sometimes we
don’t.But it does happen.

So, I ask you .
. . today, right now, what can you and I do to help spread kindness in our
world?Doesn’t have to great and
glorious.Doesn’t have to be a headline
in the newspaper.But what can you and I
do?

Michael, the boy
I mentioned earlier who caught a pass in a football game his senior year?He died a year or so ago.Gone way too soon.But for that one moment we know about, and
for possibly many other moments we don’t know about, he was the recipient of
Human Kindness.That’s the memory I
choose to remember about Michael.That,
and the players and coaches who afforded Michael to have that opportunity.

Human Kindness
does indeed Overflow.Perhaps more than
we know.Hopefully, more than we
know.What can we do, you and I do, to
contribute?Something to think about . .
.